Concrete finishing machine with adjustable float

Abstract

A concrete finishing machine includes a base portion and an extendable and retractable boom mounted at the base portion, and a finishing head mounted at a distal end of the boom. The finishing head includes (i) a float pivotally attached at a frame of the finishing head via a plurality of linkages, (ii) a float actuator that, when actuated, imparts pivotal movement of the linkages to adjust the float relative to the frame, and (iii) a surface finishing element. The concrete finishing machine is operable to selectively position the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface during extension or retraction of the boom. Responsive to a sensing device, the finishing head is maintained at a desired level or position above the concrete surface with the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface during extension or retraction of the boom.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A concrete finishing machine for finishing a concrete surface, the concrete finishing machine comprising:
 a base portion and an extendable and retractable boom mounted at the base portion;   a finishing head mounted at an end of the boom distal from the base portion;   wherein the finishing head comprises a float pivotally attached at a frame of the finishing head via a plurality of linkages, and wherein the float comprises an engaging surface configured to engage the concrete surface;   wherein the finishing head comprises a float actuator that, when actuated, imparts pivotal movement of the plurality of linkages to adjust an angle of the engaging surface of the float relative to the frame and relative to the concrete surface;   wherein the finishing head comprises a surface finishing element;   wherein the concrete finishing machine is operable to selectively position the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface during extension or retraction of the boom;   wherein, during a float pass, the concrete finishing machine positions the float at the concrete surface and moves the finishing head via extension or retraction of the boom to move the engaging surface of the float along the concrete surface, and wherein, during the float pass, the surface finishing element is raised above the concrete surface and does not contact the concrete surface;   wherein, during a finishing pass, the concrete finishing machine positions the surface finishing element at the concrete surface and moves the finishing head via extension or retraction of the boom to move the surface finishing element along the concrete surface, and wherein, during the finishing pass, the float is raised above the concrete surface and does not contact the concrete surface; and   wherein the concrete finishing machine comprises a sensing device, and wherein, responsive to the sensing device, the finishing head is maintained at a desired level or position above the concrete surface (i) with the float at the concrete surface during the float pass or (ii) with the surface finishing element at the concrete surface during the finishing pass.   
     
     
         2 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 1 , wherein selective positioning of the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface comprises pivoting of the frame of the finishing head via a self-level system (SLS) actuator at the finishing head. 
     
     
         3 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 1 , wherein selective positioning of the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface comprises lowering the float to a lowered level below the surface finishing element to position the float at the concrete surface and raising the float to a raised level above the surface finishing element to position the surface finishing element at the concrete surface. 
     
     
         4 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 1 , wherein actuation of the float actuator adjusts a direction of the angle of the engaging surface of the float at the concrete surface. 
     
     
         5 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the finishing head includes a curing spray device that is operable to spray onto the concrete surface as the boom is extended or retracted. 
     
     
         6 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the float is disposed at the frame of the finishing head so as to be leading the surface finishing element during retraction of the boom and trailing the surface finishing element during extension of the boom. 
     
     
         7 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the boom comprises a telescoping boom. 
     
     
         8 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the boom comprises an articulating boom. 
     
     
         9 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of linkages comprise multiple sets of two parallel linkages. 
     
     
         10 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the float comprises a bull float. 
     
     
         11 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the surface finishing element comprises a texturing element that, when moved along the concrete surface during the finishing pass, textures the concrete surface. 
     
     
         12 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 11 , wherein the texturing element comprises a broom or brush element. 
     
     
         13 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 1 , wherein the sensing device comprises a distance sensor that senses a distance between the sensing device and the concrete surface. 
     
     
         14 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 13 , wherein the concrete finishing machine adjusts the height of the finishing head to a first distance when the float is at the concrete surface and to a second distance when the surface finishing element is at the concrete surface. 
     
     
         15 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 14 , wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance, and wherein the float is raised when the surface finishing element is at the concrete surface. 
     
     
         16 . A concrete finishing machine for finishing a concrete surface, the concrete finishing machine comprising:
 a base portion and an extendable and retractable boom mounted at the base portion;   a finishing head mounted at an end of the boom distal from the base portion;   wherein the finishing head comprises a frame and a float pivotally attached at the frame via a plurality of sets of linkages spaced apart along the finishing head, and wherein the float comprises an engaging surface configured to engage the concrete surface;   wherein the finishing head comprises a float actuator that, when actuated, adjusts an angle of the engaging surface of the float relative to the frame and relative to the concrete surface, and wherein the angle of the engaging surface of the float adjusts relative to the frame via pivotal movement of the sets of linkages relative to the frame and relative to the float;   wherein the finishing head comprises a surface finishing element attached at the frame;   wherein the concrete finishing machine is operable to selectively position the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface during extension or retraction of the boom;   wherein selective positioning of the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface comprises lowering the float to a lowered level below the surface finishing element to position the float at the concrete surface and raising the float to a raised level above the surface finishing element to position the surface finishing element at the concrete surface;   wherein, during a float pass, the concrete finishing machine positions the float at the concrete surface and moves the finishing head via extension or retraction of the boom to move the engaging surface of the float along the concrete surface, and wherein, during the float pass, the surface finishing element is raised above the concrete surface and does not contact the concrete surface;   wherein, during a finishing pass, the concrete finishing machine positions the surface finishing element at the concrete surface and moves the finishing head via extension or retraction of the boom to move the surface finishing element along the concrete surface, and wherein, during the finishing pass, the float is raised above the concrete surface and does not contact the concrete surface; and   wherein the concrete finishing machine comprises a sensing device, and wherein, responsive to the sensing device, the finishing head is maintained at a desired level or position above the concrete surface (i) with the float at the concrete surface during the float pass or (ii) with the surface finishing element at the concrete surface during the finishing pass.   
     
     
         17 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 16 , wherein selective positioning of the float or the surface finishing element at the concrete surface comprises pivoting of the frame of the finishing head via a self-level system (SLS) actuator at the finishing head. 
     
     
         18 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 16 , wherein actuation of the float actuator adjusts a direction of the angle of the engaging surface of the float at the concrete surface. 
     
     
         19 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 16 , wherein the float is disposed at the frame of the finishing head so as to be leading the surface finishing element during retraction of the boom and trailing the surface finishing element during extension of the boom. 
     
     
         20 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 16 , wherein the boom comprises a telescoping boom. 
     
     
         21 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 16 , wherein the boom comprises an articulating boom. 
     
     
         22 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 16 , wherein each of the sets of linkages comprises a set of two parallel linkages. 
     
     
         23 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 16 , wherein the float comprises a bull float. 
     
     
         24 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 16 , wherein the surface finishing element comprises a texturing element that, when moved along the concrete surface during the finishing pass, textures the concrete surface. 
     
     
         25 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 24 , wherein the finishing head includes a curing spray device that is operable to spray onto the concrete surface as the boom is extended or retracted. 
     
     
         26 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 16 , wherein the sensing device comprises a distance sensor that senses a distance between the sensing device and the concrete surface. 
     
     
         27 . The concrete finishing machine of  claim 26 , wherein the concrete finishing machine adjusts the height of the finishing head to a first distance when the float is at the concrete surface and to a second distance when the surface finishing element is at the concrete surface, and wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.